Carol Grasso has only been in the United States for four months, and she has already left her mark on the Junior College volleyball landscape.
Grasso didn’t exactly jump at the idea of coming to Salt Lake City, Utah. When the opportunity came to leave her country Grasso hesitated.
“I love it here in Brazil,” Grasso said to her parents. “I hate the snow, and I hate the cold.”
Her parents and a man named Caesar who runs a volleyball clinic and recruiting service in Brazil persuaded Grasso to come to Utah. Caesar just happens to be friends with the Bruins Head Volleyball Coach Sue Dulaney.
“I was actually looking at Mariana Pilon,” Dulaney says. Pilon was Grasso’s high school teammate and current teammate at SLCC. “It just so happened I needed an outside-hitter and had a couple extra scholarships. Caesar recommended Grasso.” The rest is history.
Grasso won the Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Year Award, Region 18 Tournament Most Valuable Player and First Team All-Region for Region 18. She also led the Bruins to an undefeated conference regular season and a Region 18 Tournament Championship.
Grasso’s brothers are having similar success playing in the U.S.
“My younger brother plays in Cleveland, Ohio, and my older brother is playing at the University of Pacific,” Grasso says.
Growing up in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Grasso was born to play volleyball. Her mother and father both played volleyball in Brazil collegiately and professionally.
“We have a court at home in Brazil, and my brothers and I grew up shagging balls and learning how to play from our dad,” Grasso said.
Grasso’s father is also a very successful volleyball coach. He has shared his craft all over the world coaching in places such as “Italy, Brazil, Qatar, Puerto Rico and the United States” according to Grasso.
Grasso is listed as 5’10’’ in the program, but according to Coach Dulaney, Grasso is probably closer to 5’7. Which makes her accomplishments more impressive considering she is shorter than most of her counterparts and still leads the conference in kills with 414.
“I can thank my dad for my ability to jump really high,” Grasso says.
Grasso also led the conference in aces with 48.
“My dad taught me how to serve,” says Grasso.
With all the accolades and accomplishments Grasso has already achieved, she is still not satisfied.
“I want to win the National Championship. That has always been my only goal this season,” Grasso says.
The No. 6 seeded Bruins volleyball team opens up the 2013 Division I National Championship in Casper, Wyo. versus the No. 11 seed Hill College (Texas) on Thursday Nov. 21, at 9 a.m.
